Chapter Fifteen
CHAPTER FIFTEEN THAT AFTERNOON I WENT TO CAMBRIDGE, to visit Alicia’s cousin, Paul Rose. As the train approached the station, the landscape flattened out and the fields let in an expanse of cold blue light. I felt glad to be out of London— the sky was less oppressive, and I could breathe more easily. I […]
Chapter Fourteen
CHAPTER FOURTEEN I KEPT THINKING ABOUT what Max Berenson had said—about Alicia’s suicide attempt, following her father’s death. There was no mention of it in her file, and I wondered why. I rang Max the next day, catching him just as he was leaving the office. “I just want to ask you a couple more […]
Chapter Thirteen: Alicia Berenson’s Diary
CHAPTER THIRTEEN Alicia Berenson’s Diary JULY 22 I hate the fact there’s a gun in the house. We had another argument about it last night. At least I thought that’s what we were fighting about—I’m not so sure now. Gabriel said it was my fault we argued. I suppose it was. I hated seeing him […]
Chapter Twelve
CHAPTER TWELVE MAX BERENSON’S RECEPTIONIST had a bad cold. She reached for a tissue, blew her nose, and gestured at me to wait. “He’s on the phone. He’ll be out in a minute.” I nodded and took a seat in the waiting area. A few uncomfortable upright chairs, a coffee table with a stack of […]
Chapter Eleven
CHAPTER ELEVEN “I’M LOOKING FOR ELIF, Any idea where I can find her?” Yuri gave me a curious look. “Any reason you want her?” “Just to say a quick hello. I want to meet all the patients—let them know who I am, that I’m here.” Yuri looked doubtful. “Right. Well, don’t take it personally if […]
Chapter Ten
CHAPTER TEN KATHY WAS THERE WHEN I GOT HOME. She was sitting on the couch, texting. “Where were you?” she asked without looking up. “Just a walk. How was rehearsal?” “All right. Tiring.” I watched her texting, wondering who she was writing to. I knew this was my moment to speak. I know you’re having […]
Chapter Nine
CHAPTER NINE RUTH SHOWED ME INTO THE LIVING ROOM. “Would you like a cup of tea?” The room was as it had always been, as I’d always remembered it—the rug, the heavy drapes, the silver clock ticking on the mantel, the armchair, the faded blue couch. I felt instantly reassured. “To be honest, I could […]
Chapter Eight
CHAPTER EIGHT YOU DON’T NEED TO BE A PSYCHOTHERAPIST to suspect that Kathy had left her laptop open because—unconsciously, at least—she wanted me to find out about her infidelity. Well, now I had found out. Now I knew. I hadn’t spoken to her since the other night, feigning sleep when she got back, and leaving […]
Chapter Seven
CHAPTER SEVEN “THIS FEELS RATHER DIFFERENT from last time,” I said. No response. Alicia sat opposite me in the chair, head turned slightly toward the window. She sat perfectly still, her spine rigid and straight. She looked like a cellist. Or a soldier. “I’m thinking of how the last session ended. When you physically attacked […]
Chapter Six
CHAPTER SIX I ARRIVED HOME, FEELING EXHAUSTED. Force of habit made me flick on the light in the hallway, even though the bulb had gone. We’d been meaning to replace it but kept forgetting. I knew at once that Kathy wasn’t there. It was too quiet; she was incapable of quiet. She wasn’t noisy but […]